After almost a week of agitation over the Cauvery water sharing row, the Supreme Court will announce the verdict today. The Cauvery supervisory committee on Monday ordered the release of 3,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu from 21 to 30 September. This decision sparked another round of protests and agitation at the outskirts of Bengaluru, and other parts of Karnataka.
Earlier on September 5, the apex court had asked both the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to approach the panel (headed by Shashi Shekhar, secretary-water resources department) and work out a resolution. After this, the verdict of releasing 15,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu was given. This verdict was revised after the Karnataka government expressed its inability and widespread violence was witnessed
The two states have been grappling with violence ever since the verdict came out and after witnessing emergency like situation when curfew was imposed in Bengaluru, the state machinery is now taking all precautions. Both the state police are on high alert with border areas being guarded and sensitive neighbourhoods identified to avoid any untoward incident. One person died, around 100 buses were burnt and ₹20,000 crore of productivity and business losses to companies were reported.
To be sure, the Cauvery supervisory committee’s verdict will hold good only if the Supreme Court ratifies the decision on Tuesday.
